Introduction to the exhibition

When Denmark was occupied by the Germans on April 9, 1940, the Danish government chose to cooperate with the German occupation. However, on the 29th of August, 1943, the Danish government ceased its cooperation with the occupying power. The special protection of the Danish Jews was thus also at an end. On the night of October 2, 1943, the Nazis began a roundup of the Jews. 7,742 Danish Jews managed to flee to Sweden. 472 were captured and deported to Theresienstadt concentration camp. 103 lost their lives.

Six million Jews died during the Second World War as a consequence of the Nazi genocide carried out on the Jews of Europe. As the unique exception in Europe, 99% of the Danish Jews survived. When the Danish Jews returned home to Denmark afterthe end of the Second World War, it was with joyful expectations and gratitude for survival.

But nothing was as it had been before. The country to which the Danish Jews had returned had changed, and they, themselves, were no longer the same.

The exhibition is built around three circles. Where the bright exteriors depict the world famous story of the Danish Jews' rescue and survival, the darker interiors of the circles show the lesser-known repercussions that the actions taken against the Jews in October1943 had for many of them. Exhibition themes: Welcome Home, Return to Everyday Life and Afterlife.